When it comes to cybersecurity, time is critical. One of the key performance metrics used to gauge the effectiveness of security response is MTTR — Mean Time to Resolve. While commonly used in IT operations, MTTR holds significant weight in penetration testing and vulnerability management as well.

MTTR (Mean Time to Resolve) is the average time it takes to fully resolve a security vulnerability — from the moment it’s discovered to the point it’s completely remediated and validated. It reflects not just detection speed, but also how efficiently teams prioritize, fix, and verify issues.

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MTTR in Penetration Testing

In penetration testing, MTTR begins when a security issue is reported in the test findings and ends when:

The issue is triaged and confirmed.
A fix or mitigation is implemented.
The fix is tested and verified by the security team.

For example, if a pentest reveals an exposed admin interface, MTTR would cover the time taken from the initial report to securing the endpoint and verifying the change.

Here’s a table with recommended MTTR (Mean Time to Resolve) targets based on vulnerability severity, tailored for penetration testing and security operations. These are industry-aligned best practices and often used in mature security programs:

Severity	Recommended MTTR	Rationale
Critical	< 24–72 hours	Immediate risk to business, often remotely exploitable or causes full compromise.
High	< 7 days	Severe impact if exploited, but may require more specific conditions or access.
Medium	< 30 days	Moderate impact or more complex to exploit; needs timely mitigation to prevent escalation.
Low	< 90 days	Low impact or informational findings; schedule remediation as part of maintenance.
Informational	Best effort / N/A	Not exploitable directly; monitor and address if context changes or during routine updates.

Cybersecurity Dictionary

Essential terminology and practical explanations - from core concepts, and best practices to security workflows.